vinny is a solid player especially at $4.5 million, w/o giving up any assets.

get him healthy, and get some overall team confidence, and we'll be happy VL is in O&B. Lets not write him off too quick.

Probably a repost, but I thought it very interesting when Dreger was talking between 1st and 2nd of tonight's game about the relationship of Boston GM Chiarelli and Mesz from their days in Ottawa and how the Bruins need a d-man now that Seidenberg is out. Dreger also hinted it wouldn't be cheap for the Bruins to get him.

Say Boston wants him, and they're willing to give up something decent for a rental, but let's also assume the Flyers are still in the playoff hunt...

Do you pull the trigger?

I'd have to see some clarification on that. Can you document that Lecavalier has not been 100% healthy since 2008?
- MJL

Think it's pretty commonly accepted that he wasn't the same after Matt Cooke took him out in late '08... 5 months of rehab, he never got his game back to the same level again.

http://hopefulchase.blogs...-destroy-lecavaliers.html

Probably a repost, but I thought it very interesting when Dreger was talking between 1st and 2nd of tonight's game about the relationship of Boston GM Chiarelli and Mesz from their days in Ottawa and how the Bruins need a d-man now that Seidenberg is out. Dreger also hinted it wouldn't be cheap for the Bruins to get him.

Say Boston wants him, and they're willing to give up something decent for a rental, but let's also assume the Flyers are still in the playoff hunt...

Do you pull the trigger?
- wolfhounds

You know what, I probably would if the return is right. They have Gustafsson, who they can insert full time. And if they feel they need a depth defenseman, they'd probably be able to get one fairly cheap at the deadline. Not anything special, but just a player for depth and another option as a 7th besides Gill.

Think it's pretty commonly accepted that he wasn't the same after Matt Cooke took him out in late '08... 5 months of rehab, he never got his game back to the same level again.

http://hopefulchase.blogs...-destroy-lecavaliers.html
- Tomahawk

The author comes to the conclusion at the end that it's not the case. And it's all speculation anyway. The Lecavalier I saw play in the beginning of the Season looked like a 100% healthy player to me. I don't expect Lecavalier to be the player he was earlier in his career. If he was, the Flyers never would've gotten him for 4.5M.

You know what, I probably would if the return is right. They have Gustafsson, who they can insert full time. And if they feel they need a depth defenseman, they'd probably be able to get one fairly cheap at the deadline. Not anything special, but just a player for depth and another option as a 7th besides Gill.
- MJL

I would as well. If we're assuming a few things - Mesz is gone after this year, and the Flyers aren't a lock for the playoffs, let alone a favorite to bring home the cup - you've got to think about future seasons while not hamstringing your team's chances this year. And since we have Gus, and since Mesz has been a healthy scratch for quite a few games, I think it's a move that has to be made.

I would as well. If we're assuming a few things - Mesz is gone after this year, and the Flyers aren't a lock for the playoffs, let alone a favorite to bring home the cup - you've got to think about future seasons while not hamstringing your team's chances this year. And since we have Gus, and since Mesz has been a healthy scratch for quite a few games, I think it's a move that has to be made.
- wolfhounds

I just find it hard to believe that Boston would give up anything significant in a trade for Meszaros.

thought you left
- -davies-

I just find it hard to believe that Boston would give up anything significant in a trade for Meszaros.
- MJL

same. i honestly hope they get him.

The author comes to the conclusion at the end that it's not the case. And it's all speculation anyway. The Lecavalier I saw play in the beginning of the Season looked like a 100% healthy player to me. I don't expect Lecavalier to be the player he was earlier in his career. If he was, the Flyers never would've gotten him for 4.5M.
- MJL

Yeah, I'm saying his body isn't capable of performing like it did in his heyday, so he's pretty much sub-100% from here on out. And that hopeful conclusion was written in early 2011... I think we know that Vinny didn't finish that season particularly well, and he hasn't been particularly good since.

I just find it hard to believe that Boston would give up anything significant in a trade for Meszaros.
- MJL

Not that I disagree, but what would you define as significant? A 2nd round draft pick? A 3rd? A mid-level prospect?

Regardless, this is where we need Homer to work his magic. What he has in his favor is the Bruins are a legit cup favorite with an aging captain and a hole in D...their window, imho, is closing for the simple fact that if you remove Chara from that team, they go from elite to good. So hopefully that can be exploited a bit...by the Flyers.

Not that I disagree, but what would you define as significant? A 2nd round draft pick? A 3rd? A mid-level prospect?

Regardless, this is where we need Homer to work his magic. What he has in his favor is the Bruins are a legit cup favorite with an aging captain and a hole in D...their window, imho, is closing for the simple fact that if you remove Chara from that team, they go from elite to good. So hopefully that can be exploited a bit...by the Flyers.
- wolfhounds

If they're willing to retain salary, the return might be half-decent.

Yeah, I'm saying his body isn't capable of performing like it did in his heyday, so he's pretty much sub-100% from here on out. And that hopeful conclusion was written in early 2011... I think we know that Vinny didn't finish that season particularly well, and he hasn't been particularly good since.
- Tomahawk

It could be argued, so long as he isn't actually in pain or discomfort while on the ice, that Vinny sub-100% (depending how far that needle is moving in the other direction) is still better than a lot of the player in the NHL.

I thought he and Schenn played pretty well together in the first part of the season; but a back problem is quite serious, typically degenerative, and definitely something to be concerned about.

Yeah, I'm saying his body isn't capable of performing like he did in his heyday, so he's pretty much sub-100% from here on out. And that hopeful conclusion was written in early 2011... I think we know that Vinny didn't finish that season particularly well, and he hasn't been particularly good since.
- Tomahawk

Well that's a newsflash. If your definition of Lecavalier not being 100% is that he is no longer a 50 goal, 100 pt scorer, well then I guess not. But I find that humorous. Honestly, who was expecting him to be? So let's clarify. When I refer to Lecavalier being healthy, I'm referring to the current Lecavalier at 33. And by healthy, I mean not having any injuries that are affecting his play. And not saying that the normal wear and tear from playing over 1,000 NHL games and 15 Seasons, will be magically removed from his body as if he found the fountain of youth, and he'll contend for the Rocket Richard award again. And after the hit by Cooke that the article referenced, at the end of the 07/08 Season. Lecavalier came back the following Season, playing 77 games and registering 29 goals and 38 assists for 67 points. And then then next Season played all 82 games and 24 and 46 for 70 points. While not the totals of the few years before that, still very productive.

Not that I disagree, but what would you define as significant? A 2nd round draft pick? A 3rd? A mid-level prospect?

Regardless, this is where we need Homer to work his magic. What he has in his favor is the Bruins are a legit cup favorite with an aging captain and a hole in D...their window, imho, is closing for the simple fact that if you remove Chara from that team, they go from elite to good. So hopefully that can be exploited a bit...by the Flyers.
- wolfhounds

Good question. I would need at least a 2nd round pick, or a quality prospect to deal Meszaros. Otherwise, his value is better to keep.

If they're willing to retain salary, the return might be half-decent.
- Tomahawk

He can't have too much of a hit left for the season, right? Regardless, after Bryz and Briere, the little bit extra Mesz might cost the team for the remainder of this season is like a stubbed toe to a gunshot wound.

He can't have too much of a hit left for the season, right? Regardless, after Bryz and Briere, the little bit extra Mesz might cost the team for the remainder of this season is like a stubbed toe to a gunshot wound.
- wolfhounds

At this point, Boston can only take on a little over 4M of total AAV. If they want to make other moves on top of trading for Meszaros, they'll have a trade a player off their roster. Or get the Flyers to retain part of his AAV.

Good question. I would need at least a 2nd round pick, or a quality prospect to deal Meszaros. Otherwise, his value is better to keep.
- MJL

i just think he will make boston softer. if it makes any sense, he may help them in a different playoff series, but against the pens, i dont have any qualms going against him.

It could be argued, so long as he isn't actually in pain or discomfort while on the ice, that Vinny sub-100% (depending how far that needle is moving in the other direction) is still better than a lot of the player in the NHL.

I thought he and Schenn played pretty well together in the first part of the season; but a back problem is quite serious, typically degenerative, and definitely something to be concerned about.
- wolfhounds

More important than the health aspect is how injuries have affected his game. Timidity crept in after the Cooke hit, and he's been a shadow ever since.

It's shades of Simon Gagne... he just wasn't able to be as assertive and successful after the concussions and hernias and groins robbed him of his physical confidence.

And the thing that worries me, is that once Vinny gets to that age where he's no longer offensively productive and deserving of PP-time/top-6 duty, can he transition to a more supportive role?

Gagne was much quicker, versatile and defensively accomplished and he couldn't make the adjustment to a bottom-six role. Vinny seems a bit inflexible ("can't play LW"), so it's an even bigger concern with him.

At this point, Boston can only take on a little over 4M of total AAV. If they want to make other moves on top of trading for Meszaros, they'll have a trade a player off their roster. Or get the Flyers to retain part of his AAV.
- MJL

If you don't mind, clear this up for me: regardless of how many games have been played or how much the Flyers have paid him so far this season, the AAV (average annual value) is what has to fit under a team's cap?

If you don't mind, clear this up for me: regardless of how many games have been played or how much the Flyers have paid him so far this season, the AAV (average annual value) is what has to fit under a team's cap?
- wolfhounds

For teams in LTIR, it's the AAV. Teams not in LTIR only have to account for the pro-rated amount.

Probably a repost, but I thought it very interesting when Dreger was talking between 1st and 2nd of tonight's game about the relationship of Boston GM Chiarelli and Mesz from their days in Ottawa and how the Bruins need a d-man now that Seidenberg is out. Dreger also hinted it wouldn't be cheap for the Bruins to get him.

Say Boston wants him, and they're willing to give up something decent for a rental, but let's also assume the Flyers are still in the playoff hunt...

Do you pull the trigger?
- wolfhounds

Absolutely.

More important than the health aspect is how injuries have affected his game. Timidity crept in after the Cooke hit, and he's been a shadow ever since.

It's shades of Simon Gagne... he just wasn't able to be as assertive and successful after the concussions and hernias and groins robbed him of his physical confidence.

And the thing that worries me, is that once Vinny gets to that age where he's no longer offensively productive and deserving of PP-time/top-6 duty, can he transition to a more supportive role?

Gagne was much quicker, versatile and defensively accomplished and he couldn't make the adjustment to a bottom-six role. Vinny seems a bit inflexible ("can't play LW"), so it's an even bigger concern with him.
- Tomahawk

I couldn't disagree more that timidity crept in after the Cooke hit. That's taking the authors speculation as fact. The Lecavalier from the first quarter of the Season wasn't timid. Far from it. There's not a lot of players in this League that can be effective at all 3 forward spots. He simply needs time to get healthy and adjust to the Wing.

For teams in LTIR, it's the AAV. Teams not in LTIR only have to account for the pro-rated amount.
- Tomahawk

That's false. Teams using LTIR take on the same amount of Cap space in acquiring a player in season as a team that isn't using LTIR. A players cap charge to a team does not change because a team is in LTIR.

If you don't mind, clear this up for me: regardless of how many games have been played or how much the Flyers have paid him so far this season, the AAV (average annual value) is what has to fit under a team's cap?
- wolfhounds

No, not in reality. Cap geek breaks it down in terms of AAV, simply so it's easier for fans to determine what team can afford what.

There is a difference between Cap hit (AAV) and cap charge. Teams acquiring a player in season take on the prorated amount that is left for that season. Which is determined by AAV divided by days in the Season, times how many days left in the season when the player is acquired.